The sonographic and endocrinologic evaluation of the endometrium in the luteal phase

Follicular development and the endometrial thickness were determinedsonographically in 19 outpatients with different causes of sterility,treated during natural or stimulated cycles. The estimates ofthe endometrial thickness, assessed by ultrasound in the mid-lutealphase, and the levels of 17-oestradiol and progesterone in thesame patients sampled on the day of sonography were compared.Five patients became pregnant (group 1) and showed good progesteronevalues. Eight patients who were not pregnant showed progesteronevalues above 15 ng/ml in the mid-luteal phase (group 2). Theprogesterone values of group 3 were below 15 ng/ml by definition.The mean endometrial thickness in group 1 (= 11.3 mm) and group 2 ( = 11.8 mm) weresignificantly higher than that of group 3 (= 8.3 mm). The sonographic measurement of the mid-luteal endometriumthickness serves as an additional criterion for the evaluationof the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle.